400 megawatts of additional transmission capacity between Finland and Russia

Fingrid Oyj, which is responsible for the main electricity transmission grid in Finland, and RAO EES Rossii, the world's largest power company which is responsible for grid transmission and cross-border transmission in Russia, have signed an agreement on having a new cross-border connection built between Finland and Russia.Fingrid and RAO EES Rossii signed the agreement concerning the building of the third 400 kilovolt electricity transmission connection between the Kymi substation in Finland and the Viipuri substation in Russia yesterday, on 20 December 2000. The new connection will add the transmission capacity between Finland and Russia by 400 megawatts. Once the new line is complete, the total transmission capacity between the two countries will increase from the current 1,000 megawatts to 1,400 megawatts. The current capacity has been reserved fully.

Fingrid will be responsible for the building project in Finland up to the border and RAO EES Rossii will build the line in Russia. Fingrid's share of the project will cost approximately EUR 17 million. The additional capacity is estimated to be in commercial use at the beginning of 2003.